China has started sharing important data regarding the two major rivers of SOuth Asia - the Brahmaputra and the Sutlej - with Indian agencies. The two sides discussed this issue in March following which the data-sharing channel opened up.

A water resources ministry official claimed to news agency PTI that data on Brahmaputra was shared by China from May 15, and that of the Sutlej on June 1. This exercise will happen twice daily until October. "Sharing hydrological data is very important for generating information on floods for the northeastern states," the official said.

The Doklam stand-off between India and China resulted in several gaps in diplomatic ties. On the 73rd day of the stand-off China had stopped data sharing citing floods ruining hydrological data gathering sites. However, after the recent talks, not only did this issue get sorted but the two countries decided to resume annual military exercises.

According to the official, China provides data of three hydrological stations — Nugesha, Yangcun and Nuxia, on Brahmaputra which is called Yarlung Zangbo in China — and from Tsada station for the Sutlej, known as Langqen Zangbo. But this information is not a goodwill gesture and comes at a cost, with India paying Rs1 crore for it annually.